Autumn Shenanigans and Other Stories Around the Southeast

Pumpkin Spice Latte

“I'm so glad I live in a world where there are Octobers.” 
~ L.M. Montgomery, Anne of Green Gables

It's sort of a white girl cliche' to look forward to your very first Pumpkin Spice Latte from Starbucks. These lattes are seasonal treats, and you know, once you have that first taste, Fall is in the air. We begin to look at the leaves a little closer, putting on our sunglasses to catch those warm hues, only to remove them and see the still-green leaves. We begin to dig in the back of our closets, hoping to pair that fantastic plum colored scarf with those new dark jeans and brown riding boots. However, if you live in the South, you know it will be a few more weeks until you are able to truly embrace the season.

Which is what I am doing. Embracing the season. By doing so, I have so many new goals and ideas, I am just bursting at the seams to get started on them all! Though I have not written in my blog for a while now, I have pulled together enough life experiences to have some decent content for a while. 

For one, I have been working fairly hard at the Cannonball House, the museum I run. We've added a lot of new programming, and I wanted to make sure that it goes well, so I am pushing those events into the community. I've also picked up quite a bit of freelance work! I wrote some articles I am very proud of in the latest issue of Macon Magazine, and the work I am doing in the 11th Hour is getting a little buzz - even on Georgia Public Broadcasting! Not bad for a former journalist- turned PR chick - turned Museum director/freelance writer. Not bad at all. 

Hanging out in City Market, a boutique and art gallery area of Savannah, Georgia

Earlier this season, SG (Sweet Guy) and I headed down to Savannah to celebrate the union of two of my dear friends, JJ & PC. What was so exciting about this trip was that it marked the first official gay wedding that I will attend in Georgia that was completely legal. That's right - #lovewins and now Gay Marriage is legal in Georgia. 

Relaxing on the Savannah River

Outside of the wedding festivities, SG and I got the opportunity to spend some quality time together. We sat outside by the Savannah River, with our touristy frozen drinks from Wet Willies, just soaking up the cool air and sunny skies. 

Hanging out at the Wedding on Tybee Island

Of course, being Georgia and all, my hair was not cooperating. Humidity was at an all time high and I have seen better days with the frizz. 

The Happy Couple

The wedding was absolutely adorable. There were so many little personal touches, that unless you knew the couple well, you might not pick up on them. I thought the vows were incredibly romantic.. and of course, the theme got right to the point: "Let's Do This."

Adorable Wedding Cake

Sad to say, I never got a slice of this delicious cake. 

Kevin Barry's Irish Pub, Savannah

That final night in Savannah, SG and I went to my favorite Irish Pub, Kevin Barry's on River Street, and enjoyed a pint and some great sing-along Irish tunes. This was a first time experience for SG and he loved it!

Guinness at Kevin Barry's

When in Rome... 

Bourbon Bar, Macon, GA

Speaking of good drinks, SG and I have frequented the Bourbon Bar in Macon. It is a new spot that is owned and operated by Adam and Becky Dennis. You can read more about the bar in my 11th Hour article HERE. 

Pumpkin Spice Martini

My friend, Ryan, is the Beverage Director of the Bourbon Bar and he created this fantastic Pumpkin Spice Martini. (Made with pureed pumpkin) The ingredients all come the Dirt Farmers (You can read more about them HERE - another article I wrote for the 11th Hour.)

Campfire at the Farm

You can't get into Fall without a good campfire. In late September, SG made one in the backyard at his farm. The girls got to roast marshmallows, tell ghost stories, and make good old fashioned S'mores. 

Kid's Kitchen at the Cannonball House

Kid's Kitchen

Speaking of kids making snacks, we have really done an impressive job with our educational programs at the museum. Our education coordinator taught a "Kids Kitchen" for kids in Kindergarten to 3rd grade. These adorable little ones got to make apple tarts from scratch! It went so well!

Raggedy Ann Cake by Erica

We even added story time to our program! In September, we celebrated Raggedy Ann's 100th birthday! I just LOVE LOVE LOVE children's literature (which, let's be honest, without those great stories I would not be interested in story telling..) We found a great way to celebrate an oldie but goody! My friend, Erica, made this amazing Raggedy Ann cake! It was the highlight of the entire event. Of course, we had to serve it on our finest silver. ;-)

The staff made a beautiful banner made of rags! 

Brenda read the story of Raggedy Ann!

And of course, there were crafts and games!

This weekend we will celebrate Alice in Wonderland's 150th Birthday! I can't wait to share with you those pics. If you are passing through or live in middle Georgia, it is only $1 to attend! 11am at the Cannonball House!

Picking muscadines on the farm!

Right before it got cold, I got to go muscadine picking for the final goodies with Karen-Ann. We got bowls full. (Which I am pretty sure I snacked on for a solid two weeks.) Delish! SG's farm is simply the best!

Turkish Food

I'm fairly lucky to know the people I know, and my friend Melissa, who happens to run the 567 For Renewal, spent a couple of years teaching in Turkey. Each year she celebrates with her friends in Macon with a Turkish feast! As you guys know, middle eastern food is near and dear to my heart, so of course I went. I had to miss it last year, but that was not the case in early October!

Pouring Turkish Chai

We enjoyed a delicious assortment of goodies, and at the end, Melissa served Turkish Tea - or Chai. 

Turkish Coffee

And of course, the piece de resistance - Turkish Coffee. MY FAVORITE THING EVER. 

Speaking of teas and coffees.. I started throwing some tea parties, and they are going really well!! 

October Themed Tea Party

This last one was a little smaller than the first. I only had 6 people, but it IS Football season and we are in the SEC. (It is like a religion down here.) 

Tea Party foods prepared by Telisa

My friend, Telisa, prepared all of the lovely foods I served. We had Lemon Cucumber tea sandwiches, rose meringues, pimento cheese tea sandwiches, & pumpkin spice cones. 

Parties have always been my thing... 
I recently attended a party that had the most BEAUTIFUL floral arrangement. (If you are into that kind of thing... which... I am!)

Home in Shirley Hills where the party was thrown

The party was held in an older neighborhood in Macon called Shirley Hills. Denny & Sambo had a few of the patrons from my museum over to celebrate our year of great success. 
Their home is VERY much a typical Southern home - complete with columns and amazing outdoor entertaining space. 

Beautiful screened in porch

See what I mean about the screened in porch. We Southerners love our porch parties. 

That floral arrangement!

Back to the beautiful flowers - see them? Wowza! It was a great night. 

Historic Andersonville

A few weeks ago, I took SG's girls to Historic Andersonville (in SW Georgia.) We watched a little Civil War reenactment, ate hot dogs, and keeping with the Autum-esque theme, ordered pumpkin spice gelato!

Quilter at Historic Andersonville

I always enjoy chatting it up with craftsmen, and I took a few minutes to chat with this quilter. I asked her so many questions, especially since my Grandma Thurston was a quilter. I never got to really talk to her about her quilts before she died, but I do love them!

Did I mention Alabama whipped Georgia's behind in football?

No big surprise there. lol

Grand baby time!

No doubt, SG sneaks in as much time as he can with baby Cotton. 

Mercer Strings 

I had a wonderful experience at Rotary recently! We got a special treat from Amy Schwartz Moretti and her strings students!

Peanuts are a major crop in Georgia

Lucky me, I get to travel to SW Georgia most weekends and indulge in their best crop/product - and that's fresh hot boiled peanuts! Very Fall! (Check that one off of my list.) I consider myself to be a boiled peanut connoisseur! 

Hay Ride!

You can't welcome in Fall without a decent Hay Ride! We headed down to Mark's Melon Patch and enjoyed a ride around his farm!

Sunflower Fields in South Georgia

Another excellent Fall crop are the Sunflowers! I visited my first Sunflower field!! I was blown away by these beauties!

Zinnias

And the Zinnias... oh my word. I have a new found appreciation for this basic flower! They are beautiful!

Me picking a pumpkin

We did take some time and pick pumpkins last weekend. A necessary step in a perfect October!

Our pumpkins on the pier at the cabin

Our Pumpkins at night 

Needless to say, October has been fantastic!

I've got a few more doozies to knock off before I wrap this month up, but all is going well!

Tell me about some of your Autumn traditions? What's new in your world?

Taking Life With a Grain of Salt... A Wedge of Lime...

The past two weeks have been a whirl wind of good times coupled with relaxation, with a dash of stress and concern. 

*smh*

Needless to say, my writing is sporadic... and I am trying very desperately to do something about that. As you may have read earlier this week, I do plan to do a little five-part blog post. That will start on Monday, but until then, let me share with you a little of what is going on in my personal life.

As you can see in the top pic, my cats are adjusting to the heat the only way they know how, by finding a nice, cool dark spot in my closet, way up high, right on top of my clothes. *sigh* I promise those t shirts were folded very nicely before those two made an appearance.

Speaking of cats - Zen has decided he also likes to crawl into the laundry basket. Oh.. let me just add - he is quite the mouser. Yes... he caught a mouse in my apt. I don't even want to know how that little guy got in, but I know he won't do that again. About midnight last night I found Zen walking through with a mouse hanging out of his mouth. I ran screaming thru the house, grabbed a broom, got him to drop it, and banged the poor mouse numerous times on the head screaming - Die! Die! Die!.. then I swept him out the door - only to see him scurry off. *shudder*

Salvatore feels much better. He has been dealing with some blockages in his urethra. Finally off his meds. 

My plants are doing well!

My Gerber Daisies look awesome. Most have bloomed!

I may very well be in love with this little fella.

My Niece came over and spent a little time at my pool with me. I'm totally digging her bathing suit!

Enjoyed a little coffee talk with my friends Stephanie & Andre

My cousins from Indiana, Courtney & Betsy, came through Georgia and visited with us. 

Here is my Uncle Bill and Aunt June from Indiana. We met up at the Pickle Barrel in Gray, Georgia. 

That little stinker. 

If you have not gotten by Roasted lately, you really should. Nothing like a Mediterranean Lunch

enjoyed a little time with my sister in her new house. 

There are some perks to living in an apartment complex. 

My roomie and I took off last Friday for the Golden Isles... the southern coast of Georgia. Took about 3 1/2 hours and we ended up in St. Simons Island, Georgia. We wondered the shops in the village - just to shake off the stiffness from driving those back country roads through Georgia. 

Here I am.. chillaxing on the pier on the Atlantic in St. Simons. 

Here is Lynn doing the same exact thing. LOL There were a lot of fishermen out... 

Packing for a trip is not for the faint of heart. 

After a walk about, we stopped by Iguana Grill on St. Simons. I opted for the coconut shrimp and a baked potato. Later we got ice cream cones to carry as we walked around. 

The beautiful light house in St. Simons. 

More of the beachy shops on St. Simons. Georgia is simply beautiful, isn't it?

Two dear friends enjoying a road trip!

Beach Selfie

Enjoying the view from the pier. Yes, the Atlantic is a little darker than the Gulf. :-)

We felt like we could just let the stress of the week disappear. 

Next we popped down the road about 20 minutes and drove on Jekyll Island, Georgia. We made a way around the historic district to the most beautiful hiking trails to driftwood beach. 

Jekyll Island's Driftwood Beach is really quite a fascinating place. See the land in the distance on the right? That's St. Simons Island!

It's almost magical. 

There were hundreds of hermit crabs scooting into the sand near this spot. 

If you look head.. you can see the light house. :-)

We headed out to go shopping in the historic district. 

The walking trails leading to the shops and the historic homes (of the Rockafellers, Vanderbilts, Carnegie's etc.)

Jekyll Island, Georgia

We drove past Jekyll to Brunswick, and down about 30 more miles to Kingsland, Georgia to see my friend, Lisa. We met up with her at her home. 

Later that night she took us into St. Mary's, Georgia for dinner. We had a great time.. but headed back a little early to get some sleep. It had been a long day!

The next morning, we headed to Amelia Island, Florida to get a little beach time in. It was Lynn's 38th birthday, and we could not think of a better way to spend her birthday. 

Lynn relaxing on the beach, scrolling FB, drinking her iced caramel macciato (sp). 

The sea gulls discovered my cheeze its. 

We were at the beach from around 10am until 2pm. Soaking up the sun... playing in the water... just refilling our soul! But hunger called.... 

We met Lisa at Cedar River restaurant on Amelia Island. I had the best shrimp scampi of my life! After lunch, we headed back to get ready for Lynn's birthday night out in historic downtown Fernadina Beach, Florida. 

Here is Lisa and I at the oldest bar in Florida - The Palace Saloon. This place used to be the stomping grounds of pirates!

A very cool place - with a great band! They played covers from the 90s. 

Lisa & Lynn

Silliness

On Sunday, we got up, packed up, gased up, and headed up I-95, about an 1 hr 1/2 to Savannah, Georgia to see our friends. 

We met our friends at this adorable little beach shack of a restaurant out in the marshes on the way toward Tybee Island, called Bona Bella. 

Was great to see PC & JJ!

I ordered the Banana's Foster French Toast. 

We had soooooo many laughs.... 

Here you see the whole group - Lynn, PC, JJ, Me, and Cindy

After a lovely brunch, we headed back to their house and chatted for an hour or so. Later, we hated to say goodbye, but headed north-westward for Macon.

I could not be happier with the way the trip turned out. I needed that. I came back to Macon, only to continue the fight for our funds to be reinstated in the city/county's budget. It looks like we may be okay.

So many changes will come this summer, and I am looking forward to making the next 1/2 of the year the best 1/2 of the year.